Ben Carson vows to soldier on despite South Carolina loss

Ben Carson is not dropping out of the Republican presidential race just yet.

Despite a likely sixth place finish in South Carolina, the retired neurosurgeon told a crowd at his primary night party on Saturday that not he would suspend his campaign.

"What we need is recognition of the fact that the way our country was designed — it was designed for citizen-statesmen, not career politicians," Carson said.

Click through images from the South Carolina primary:

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South Carolina Primary vote

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Ben Carson vows to soldier on despite South Carolina loss

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC - FEBRUARY 20: Wade Fulmer, 59, dressed in costume as a Civil War undertaker, registers to vote at the Belvedere First Baptist Church polling precinct after participating in the 151st Civil War reenactment of the Battle of Aiken on February 20, 2016 in North Augusta, South Carolina. A reeanctor since 1969, Fulmer was undecided only 30 minutes before voting. North Augusta, SC on February 20, 2016. Statewide voters will cast ballots today in the South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary, the 'first in the south.' (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

LEXINGTON, SC - FEBRUARY 20: Republican primary voters check in at American Legion Post 7 on February 20, 2016 in Lexington, South Carolina. Today's vote is traditionally known as the 'First in the South' primary. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

WEST COLUMBIA, SC - FEBRUARY 20: Republican primary voter Michael Rabun checks in at a polling location at American Legion Post 90 February 20, 2016 in West Columbia, South Carolina. Today's vote is traditionally known as the 'First in the South' primary. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

An electronic voting both stands inside a polling station inside the Family YMCA of Greater Laurens during the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election in Laurens, South Carolina, U.S., on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. With South Carolina polls closing at 7 p.m., voters will have their say in the Republican presidential contest as Donald Trump, who holds a commanding lead in most South Carolina polls, and five other Republican candidates face off. Photographer: T.J. Kirkpatrick/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Residents vote in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election at a polling station inside the South Carolina National Guard armory in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, U.S., on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. With South Carolina polls closing at 7 p.m., voters will have their say in the Republican presidential contest as Donald Trump, who holds a commanding lead in most South Carolina polls, and five other Republican candidates face off. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A poll volunteer holds a roll of 'I Voted' stickers as residents vote in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election inside a polling station in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, U.S., on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. With South Carolina polls closing at 7 p.m., voters will have their say in the Republican presidential contest as Donald Trump, who holds a commanding lead in most South Carolina polls, and five other Republican candidates face off. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images

LITTLE MOUNTAIN, SC - FEBRUARY 20: A sign sits in front of a polling station during the Republican presidential primary on February 20, 2016 in Little Mountain, South Carolina. Polls show New York businessman Donald Trump leading his closest rival U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

A man holds a Jeb Bush, former Governor Florida and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, campaign sign across the street from a polling station as residents vote in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S., on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. With South Carolina polls closing at 7 p.m., voters will have their say in the Republican presidential contest as Donald Trump, who holds a commanding lead in most South Carolina polls, and five other Republican candidates face off. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images

CAYCE, SC - FEBRUARY 20: Carl Selander walks out of American Legion Memorial Cayce Post 130 after voting for Ted Cruz in the Republican presidential primary on February 20, 2016 in Cayce, South Carolina. Today's vote is traditionally known as the 'First in the South' primary. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

'I Voted' stickers sit on a table in a polling station inside Our Savior Lutheran Church during the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S., on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. With South Carolina polls closing at 7 p.m., voters will have their say in the Republican presidential contest as Donald Trump, who holds a commanding lead in most South Carolina polls, and five other Republican candidates face off. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

DENMARK, SC - FEBRUARY 20: Poll station officials have lunch while waiting for voters at the Denmark Depot polling precinct on February 20, 2016 in Denmark, South Carolina. Statewide voters will cast ballots today in the South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary, the 'first in the south.' (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

Residents vote in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election at the Sears Shelter in Greenville, South Carolina, U.S., on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. With South Carolina polls closing at 7 p.m., voters will have their say in the Republican presidential contest as Donald Trump, who holds a commanding lead in most South Carolina polls, and five other Republican candidates face off. Photographer: T.J. Kirkpatrick/Bloomberg via Getty Images

CHAPIN, SC - FEBRUARY 20: Voters check in at a polling station at Amicks Ferry Fire Station February 20, 2016 in Chapin, South Carolina. Residents of South Carolina picked their candidate in the state Republican primary today. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

COLUMBIA, SC - FEBRUARY 20: A voter casts her ballet at a polling station at Hand Middle School February 20, 2016 in Columbia, South Carolina. Residents of South Carolina picked their candidate in the state Republican primary today. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WEST COLUMBIA, SC - FEBRUARY 20: A poster for the South Carolina Republican presidential primary sits on a table at American Legion Post 79 on February 20, 2016 in West Columbia, South Carolina. Today's vote is traditionally known as the 'First in the South' primary. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

WEST COLUMBIA, SC - FEBRUARY 20: Corey Threatt, chairman of the West Columbia #3 polling station, waits to assist a voter in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary at American Legion Post 79 on February 20, 2016 in West Columbia, South Carolina. Today's vote is traditionally known as the 'First in the South' primary. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Meggett, SC - FEBRUARY 20: A man and woman walk into the Meggett Town Hall polling station in Meggett, South Carolina on February 20, 2016. Statewide voters will cast ballots today in the South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary, traditionally known as the 'First in the South' primary. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

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Carson hasn't placed higher than fourth place in any of the nominating states thus far.

On Saturday, Carson said that he would stay in the race to remind Americans that the "political class" and political pundits should not have the ability to dictate the direction of the presidential race.

"They believe that they have complete control of our country. They only have complete control if we give them complete control," he said.

Carson added:

This is a message that I'm going to be taking across the nation, to try and help the people of America recognize that we still have the ability to dictate the course of our country, we still have the ability to save it for the next generation.

Carson has maintained that the reason he is staying in the race is because his supporters don't want him to drop out.

"I'm getting a lot of pressure to make sure I stay in the race," Carson told CNN of his supporters. "They're reminding me that I'm here because I responded to their imploring me to get involved. And I respect that and I'm not just going to walk away from the millions of people who are supporting me."

Though Carson attempted to rally supporters on Saturday, some rumors swirled that he may drop out after the Nevada contest on Tuesday.

Been told that Carson has the infrastructure in Nevada and doesn't want to let staffers down there; will drop on Wednesday